Polymeric tracers

Abstract

Tracing subterranean fluid flow includes providing a first polymeric tracer to a first injector, collecting a first aqueous sample from a first producer, and assessing the presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample. The first polymeric tracer includes a first polymer formed from at least a first monomer. The presence of the first polymeric tracer in the first aqueous sample is assessed by removing water from the first aqueous sample to yield a first dehydrated sample. pyrolyzing the first dehydrated sample to yield a first gaseous sample, and assessing the presence of a pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample. The presence of the pyrolization product of the first polymer in the first gaseous sample is indicative of the presence of a first subterranean flow pathway between the first injector location and the first producer location.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation, comprising:
 providing a polymeric tracer comprising a polymeric nanoparticle to an injector location in the subterranean formation to flow through the subterranean formation from the injector location to a producer location in the subterranean location, wherein the polymeric nanoparticle comprises a polymeric core, a polymeric layer surrounding the polymeric core, and a surfactant layer between the polymeric core and the polymeric layer; 
 collecting an aqueous sample from the producer location; 
 removing water from the aqueous sample to yield a dehydrated sample; 
 pyrolyzing the dehydrated sample to yield a gaseous sample; and 
 detecting a pyrolization product of the polymeric core in the gaseous sample, wherein presence of the pyrolization product in the gaseous sample is indicative of presence of the polymeric tracer in the aqueous sample. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , comprising protecting the polymeric core in reservoir conditions of the subterranean formation via the polymeric layer, wherein the polymeric layer is a protective coating, and wherein the pyrolization product comprises a constituent monomer of a polymer of the polymeric core or a monomer substituent on the constituent monomer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric core comprises polystyrene, polyacrylate, or polymethacrylate, and wherein the polymer layer comprises polyethyleneimine (PEI) or a crosslinked carbohydrate-based coating.